Fashion, Falaya and fortune! Add a fusion of fun and fraternizing and that's what unfolded at three recent events.

The sixth alphabetical letter continues its roll with Ebony Fashion Fair, "the world's largest traveling fashion show," and its billing of "Defining Fabulous." A 50th anniversary celebration has also been in the catwalking works this year. Linda Johnson Rice and Eunice W. Johnson are EFF's respective president /CEO and producer/director.

Held in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Crescent City show and socializing were hosted by the Alpha Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. to benefit the GNOABO Educational and Charitable Foundation. Fashions from various designers around the globe, such as Bill Blass, Bob Mackie, Oscar de la Renta, Brioni, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Louis Feraud and Yves St. Laurent, were showcased in two acts.

On the north shore, the anniversary ado was two dozen when Saint Scholastica Academy presented Falaya Fling 2008, the 24th annual auction, gourmet buffet and dance. New Heights Therapeutic Riding was the honored charity. Tom Fitzmorris served as the FF auctioneer; The Topcats, the musicmakers; and Castine Center at Pelican Park, the Mandeville location. Leslie Ellinghausen, Licy Gagnet and Ann Rosenow chaired the FF frolic that started with a "Tastes Around the World" patron party and decorations to further the international theme. Artist John Hodge created the patron gift, a gold-leaf ceramic ornament called "Crown Dove."

Once the gala got rolling, the top two auction items paid tribute to the pigskin pack: An Eli Manning -autographed jersey, which was donated by Leslee and Royce Mitchell and purchased by Lowrey Williamson, and an autographed Louisiana State University football helmet given by an SSA friend and bought by Cindi and Tim Klibert.

Further features were the numerous restaurants and their tasty fare, auction raffles, and "Blingtini." A diamond from Boudreaux's Fine Jewelers was placed in one of the 150 martini glasses available for purchase: the other glasses contained cubic zirconias.

At Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie, the hit TV game show "Deal or No Deal" themed the gala dinner, which included a patron party, dinner, game show, and dancing. The Manheim Social Hall sported a new look, thanks to decorations of silver dollar signs and balloons. Customized mugs with a scratch-off lottery ticket in each went home with the patrons, most of whom followed the dress mandate of "primetime pizazz."

Jill Plotkin and Carrie Michaels -- joined by husbands Lee (temple president) and Damian -- chaired the caper with help from such committee members as JoAnn Katz, Heidi Hoppe, Debbie Friedman, Allison Gordon, Rachel Jaffee, Tory May and Sandee Seelig, who, with hubby Stanley, underwrote the Rommel's Catering-dinner. "Delicious" was the consensus. Further committee help came from Jill's mother-in-law, Lynn Plotkin, and Carrie's mom, Harriet Kugler. Jill's father-in-law, retired Judge Steve Plotkin, rated thanks aplenty as the top ticket seller for the raffle.

A highlight of the evening was comedian Becky Allen as the game show host with Jaffee, the youngest Plotkin offspring, as her sidekick. Some of the models were men from the Gates of Prayer membership, who carried silver suitcases and sported red satin robes and black boas. Rabbi Bob Loewy played the role of banker.